Lord's worth £15.6m to Westminster economy
Published: 16 July 2014

International cricket generates millions

International cricket at Lord’s generates millions of pounds for the local economy, according to a study commissioned by MCC.

The findings, taken from research carried out at Sheffield Hallam University’s Sports Industry Research Centre, found that last year’s Ashes Test at Lord’s had a net economic impact of £6.9 million in St John’s Wood, £8.7 million in Westminster and £10.8 million in the Tri-borough area of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham.

The Research Centre, which carries out similar work at Open Golf Championships, interviewed more than 3,000 spectators in what is the largest study ever conducted at a UK cricket match.

They also took into account expenditure from MCC, the teams and officials, the media and corporate sponsors over the four-day contest.

The total net economic impact of international fixtures at Lord’s in 2013 (including the Test and One Day International against New Zealand), was estimated at £11.5 million in St John’s Wood, £15.6 million in Westminster and £20.2 million in the Tri-borough area.

Ahead of the start of the Second Investec Test match between England and India at Lord’s, MCC can also announce a virtual sell out for days one to four, with 7,500 tickets sold for day five.

Derek Brewer, MCC Chief Executive, said: "This study has revealed just how beneficial major match cricket at Lord’s is to the local economy. With capacity crowds for the first four days of both Sri Lanka and India Test matches this year, we would be expecting similarly impressive figures for 2014 – especially considering the added bonus of the MCC v Rest of the World match here earlier this month which was also a sell-out.

"Lord’s is an iconic venue – one that MCC believes is an asset to London as a whole, as well as to the game of cricket. As MCC steps up its community work and opens up more employment opportunities for local people, as well as seeking to increase the capacity of the Ground, the benefits of Lord’s matches to the local area will only grow."

Projections in the study also revealed that with a capacity of 32,000 – the aspiration of MCC’s Masterplan for Lord’s – the direct economic impact of the Lord’s Ashes Test would have increased to by £0.13 million in St John’s Wood, £0.35 million in Westminster and £0.46 million in the Tri-borough area.